All things have a beginning, even so modest as it may be. In 1917 and 1918 the people of Stephens County, in the Eastanollee community, joined themselves in an effort to improve education in the rural area of the county. Toccoa had a good high school at this time. With meager funds and a strong will, they put their hard earned dollars together to build a high school for the county. An eight room-two story building was erected using brick fired in a kiln near the school site and students entered the new building in 1918. In 1921 the first graduating class program was held with two students graduating. They were Roy Perkins and Loler Bell Hayes.

Eastanollee High School, as it was known then, was the first rural consolidated high school in Georgia to become a member of The Southern Association. The Cherokee Indian translation of the word Eastanollee means, per Trogon's History of Stephens County 1973,  "Rocky ledge across the water".

Eastanollee High School's name was changed to Stephens County High School in 1929.

Many changes have taken place in Stephens County High School since it's beginning. A decision was made to merge Toccoa High School and Stephens County High in 1971.Thus from a modest beginning by the people of Stephens County, the school system has consistently grown and improved to become one of the finest and highest rated high schools in the country. All who have passed thru the portals of this great school have been blessed by the experiences and knowledge gained as a student there.

The above information was obtained from a letter written by Mr. Ralph Moseley. He graduated from Stephens County High in 1925 and later came back to be a teacher and then a principle. The letter and the beautiful painted picture, from which the above photograph was made, is owned by Mr. Moseley's son.

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